A SYSTEMS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS OF THE PESTONI PILLARS AS THEY APPLY TO USN SURFACE WARSHIPS

Abstract

This project develops a tool to better understand the impact of resource allocation on fleet readiness for the future guided-missile frigate, FFG(X). This project assesses the FFG(X) in terms of the PESTONI pillars (Personnel, Equipment, Supply, Training, Ordnance, Network, and Infrastructure). To use the PESTONI framework as a way to increase FFG(X) readiness, both a qualitative and a quantitative solution were developed. The qualitative solution is a series of failure propagation chain diagrams that represent how funding changes within one pillar affect the other pillars. The quantitative solution is the readiness model itself. The readiness model decomposes each pillar in a way that is relatable to the way the FFG(X) will operate when fielded. Once each pillar was independently constructed and tested, the pillars were interconnected in the same way they are presented in the failure propagation chain diagrams. The designed operation of the readiness model is to load the model with pertinent FFG(X) data that is then used in conjunction with both current and future funding allocations to estimate FFG(X) readiness. The readiness model is verified using multiple use case scenarios that demonstrate funding shifts cannot simply be equal across the PESTONI pillars, but they must be optimized to maximize FFG(X) readiness. The FFG(X) readiness model aims to present the user with objective information that will aid in producing the highest possible ship readiness.